It’s my Parting Shot for Part 1 of my W-H-L Playoffs Preview…..
On Monday, I said this preview would run today, tomorrow and Friday – forgetting entirely that Friday is “Good Friday” and a day off for me so we are squeezing this into two days!
And, I mean squeeze!!
We’ll start with a quick look at the four Western Conference quarter-finals – a Conference in which there are three really good teams and five mediocre squads that qualified for the post-season. The Western Conference champ will play in the neighbourhood of three to five fewer contests than the Eastern Conference winner going into the league final – in my humble opinion!
First place Prince George faces eighth place Spokane, a 36-point difference in the standings. The Chiefs will be able to out-score the Cougars once, but P-G will advance in five games!
Second place Portland takes on seventh place Victoria, a 34-point difference. Here’s the one sweep as the Winterhawks fly by the Royals!
Then, it’s third place Everett against sixth place Vancouver, a 27-point difference. The Giants, with 20-year-old goaltender and Saskatoon product Brett Mirwald, will be somewhat problematic for the Silvertips, who are slowly – but surely – getting healthy. Still, I’ve got Everett prevailing in six games.
The best series of the first round out West has fourth place Wenatchee against fifth place Kelowna, separated by just one point in the standings. The Wild sold off two of their best players at the deadline, but still have solid goaltending and defence while the Rockets have the dynamic offensive weapons! I’m saying Kelowna in six games, but it could go seven – in which case, flip a coin!
The Fearless Predictor will do one Eastern Conference series pick – fourth place Medicine Hat against fifth place Red Deer. Just seven points separated them and it’s a battle of speed and offensive prowess of the Tigers against the buttoned-down defence of the Rebels. The Hat have young, inexperienced goaltenders while the Deer has some key injuries on the back end and to feisty forwards. But, I’m taking Medicine Hat in six games!
Tomorrow, a look at the other three Eastern Conference first round series and an Ed Chynoweth Cup-winning prediction!!
That’s my Parting Shot. I’m Les Lazaruk…and it turned out nice again!…..
